Polygala alpestris
Polygala alpestris Rchb.
Polygalaceae – Milkwort family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iv)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Herbaceous perennial. Stems 7–15 cm, ascending, few, without non-flowering shoots at base. Leaves lanceolate-elliptical, with a single non-branched vein. Inflorescences terminal, dense, 5–20-flowered. Sepals equal, straight, with membranous margin. Wings longer and narrower than or about as wide as capsule, with 3–4 weakly branched veins, pink. Corolla as long as wings, pink to violet; tube weakly swollen at base; petals auriculate at base. Capsule cordate, winged, emarginate. Seeds hairy, up to 2.5 mm long. Fl. V–VII, fr. VI–VIII. Reproduction by seeds. Reproductive potential of the species is low.
Habitats and populations. Grows in grassy places, exclusively on limestone. Populations are small. The species has not been recorded for more than 20 years.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (central – Kozya Stena), Rhodopi Mts (Western – Beglika; Central – Trigrad); 1400–1600 m alt.
General distribution. C and S Europe, Balkan Peninsula.
Threats. Low competitiveness and reproductive potential of the species.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species according to the national Biodiversity Act. Some localities are within Central Balkan National Park and Kozya Stena Strict Nature Reserve as well as in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. The occurrence of the species in the country needs to be re-confirmed; if re-discovered, assessment of the population state, size and trends is needed; deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kožuharov & Petrova 1979.
Author: Iva Apostolova
